Rainbows of the Soul

It hurt that Josh thought she would blame him for the current crisis. She knew it wasn't his fault, but why didn't he know she would never blame him, especially not in front of Angela? It hurt so much that she had to leave the Roosevelt Room after that exchange. She heard Josh's bitter remark about new friends and Angela's answer too. She hoped Josh felt at least a bit ashamed for insinuating betrayal and disloyalty. She knew he was hurting too and knew that when he was hurting he always took it out on the ones he liked, but she was fed up with it. She was seriously contemplating marching into Leo's office and demanding he accept her resignation effective immediately. But then she remembered the hurt in his eyes and remembered when she saw it last time and knew she would never be able to leave him right now. Not while he was suffering.

So she took her place at the budget negotiations table and fought for his college-tuition tax deduction. Not because it was his idea, but because it was something she believed in. She was convinced that they seemed elitist, that they were not successful at communicating with the average citizens. That's why Ritchie led early in the polls and that's why some didn't like the President. There was a problem. Donna knew that they got off message again; she knew that Toby was trying to get them back, but apparently Leo had other priorities. Donna didn't doubt that Leo meant well, but he was far from doing it good. He didn't realize that the Senior Staff grew apart. He didn't see Sam's disillusionment or CJ's disappointment; he didn't see that Toby was ready to do more, that he didn't feel appreciated enough. Donna knew how he must have felt when Leo rebuffed his suggestion. Donna knew that he was a great writer, but also a great political mind. But Leo didn't see that. Just like Josh didn't see (or didn't want to see) that although she had excellent organizational skills, she had an eye for details. And like he once said, that was the true criterion of a successful politician. He didn't understand where her frustration was coming from, just like Leo didn't understand that Josh's frustration with the scaled-back portfolio didn't stem from the fear of losing his job or his power, but from the fear that he couldn't do his job.

She considered calling CJ before Haffley and his cronies came back, but she knew her friend was already on her way back to the DC. She decided to go over to CJ's place after work, maybe they could figure out something together because she felt at the end of her wisdom with the Josh-Leo situation. There was something else there, something she wasn't able to put a finger on. She knew there was an undercurrent she wasn't aware of, and she also knew that she and CJ were not enough. They needed the President to step in.

And then, almost as answer to her prayers, he showed up in the Roosevelt Room and there was a 'showdown at the OK Corral' as she reported to CJ later. It was a sight to see, and she hoped the President would take matters into his own hand after that. But he retreated to the Residence, leaving the others to figure it out. Donna was frustrated with the President; didn't he realize that Leo was not up to par? Didn't he realize that the only other person fluent in budget-talk was benched by Leo? Didn't he realize that leading meant sweating together with the followers? Apparently he didn't. And that made her angry with the President.

She got to CJ's pretty late. She brought a bottle of white wine, and they discussed the latest events. CJ asked how it felt being taken seriously by a player.

"It means nothing," Donna said with a sad smile.

"Because it didn't come from the right player?"

Donna only nodded and took another sip of her wine.

"We need help, CJ. This thing with Leo and Josh could continue until the end of times. There is something else going on, and I don't know what. I doubt Josh will ever tell me, so we need the President to step in, CJ," Donna said.

"We need the First Lady," CJ said.

"You talked to her like you said you would?" Donna asked her.

"Yup, she said she didn't want to come back, and honestly, who is going to fault her? She is pissed at her husband. And I can't imagine how pissed at Leo she is," CJ added.

"We have to call her, CJ," Donna insisted.

"Like now?" CJ asked back incredulously.

"Yes," Donna said.

"I know you had a glass of wine, Donna, but don't get bold," CJ warned her. "She is the First Lady, and it's well after midnight."

"Just call her, I'll tell her it was my idea."

"What are you going to tell her?"

"You and I are going to convince her to come back. Her husband needs her and she promised in good times and bad," Donna said. "Call her, please."

"Okay, but it was your idea."

CJ dialed and when Abbey picked up, she put her on the speakerphone.

"Hi, Mrs. Bartlet, sorry for calling you so late, but we needed to talk to you," Donna said. "It was my idea, so please don't be mad at CJ, she agreed only reluctantly."

"Donna, what's wrong?" Abbey Bartlet asked.

"Leo benched Josh, Angela Blake is handling the budget negotiations, and Leo was ready to give away the house. The President stood up to the Speaker and his cronies but then left everything to Leo again," Donna said, not bothering with blunting the edge in her voice. Abbey Bartlet was a woman who appreciated straightforwardness and honesty.

"You want me to come back and talk to Jed?" Abbey asked her.

"Yes, ma'am," Donna said.

"Donna, I…" she wanted to say, but Donna interrupted her.

"Ma'am, forgive me my bluntness, but the President needs you and the country needs the President. Which basically means that the country needs you," Donna said.

"This little patriotic tirade didn't convince me of anything, Donna. Cut the crap and tell me what you really think," Abbey said.

CJ threw Donna a warning look, but she only shook her head in response. She needed to be honest with the First Lady. She needed to talk to her like one woman to another, not like a lowly assistant to the wife of the leader of the free world.

"I resigned on July 5. Leo asked me to stay until Josh's birthday, but then Carrick happened and I decided to stay on," she said and hoped the First Lady knew why she brought it up.

"You mean I need to stand by my man," Abbey quoted the hit single of Tammy Wynette.

"Yes, ma'am," Donna said.

"And also by your man?" Abbey asked with a chuckle.

"That would be a bonus, yeah," Donna said cheekily.

"I'm coming down tomorrow," Abbey declared then and they said their goodbyes.

"You were pretty ballsy," CJ remarked after the conversation.

"Yeah, just like you were with the President. It actually helps that you know they can't fire you," Donna said.

"They still could," CJ said.

"That's true, but our resignations are with Leo, and saying they asked us to stay and then fired us wouldn't look all that great," Donna told her.

"I'm glad she is coming down," CJ whispered.

"Me too," Donna agreed with a nod.

TBC

I hope you like this one, if so, please leave a review.